AOC Named One of America’s Best
Academy of the Canyons is one of four early and middle college high schools in the state of California to earn a bronze ranking in “U.S. News & World Report” ranking of the top high schools in America. The ranking represents the top 10 percent of high schools in America, based on college readiness index scores. Bronze medals were awarded to only 1189 high schools, out of nearly 22,000 public high schools across the country that underwent a rigorous analysis to qualify for the rankings. The America’s Best High Schools project is an annual report that identifies the country’s top-performing high schools.
District Students Support Haitian Relief Efforts
Students at a number of Hart District schools have donated more than $12,000 in support of relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. In addition, several schools conducted shoe drives to support the Soles4Souls campaign and jeans for the Teens for Jeans drive. Cash donations went to the Red Cross, to specific orphanages and to other relief agencies that are working with Haitian families displaced or injured in the quake.
Speaker Brings Holocaust Into Focus
Holocaust survivor Elaine Geller spoke at Rio Norte Junior High School as part of the City of Santa Clarita’s “Season of Diversity” program. A standing room only crowd of students and community members listened as Ms. Geller spoke about her experiences as a child in the death camps. Her vivid recollections inspired interesting questions from the audience, particularly the students. Rio Norte student Meghan Poole wrote, “Elaine Geller said, ‘Words hurt. Words start wars, words kill people.’ This stood out to me because I have known this for a long time. And words and hateful feelings are what caused the Holocaust.” Beau Keneman reflected, “We are one of the last generations that will meet Holocaust survivors.” Sam Rebele recalled Elaine Geller stating, “The cost of freedom is high and I believe that is something humans should always remember.”
Athletes Sign Letters of Intent
Three senior athletes at Hart High School launched their college careers recently by signing letters of intent to national colleges and universities. James Scott will play baseball at The Master’s College, Megan Indermill will play soccer at the University of California San Diego, and Ty Mac Arthur will play football for the Air Force Academy. All three have accepted scholarships to play their respective sports.
Sierra Vista Jumps for Fitness, Record
Sierra Vista Junior High School students were jumping for more than joy when they participated in Jamba Juice Jump Day coordinated with the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Education and Dance (CAHPERD). Sierra Vista, along with a number of other California schools, was trying to break the record for the number of people doing jump rope at the same time. The previous record was 55,000 and the CAHPERD group was aiming for a total of 80,000.
La Mesa Examines ‘Teen Truth’ About Bullying
Movie producer J.C. Pohl visited La Mesa Junior High School recently as part of a nationwide effort to address the source of school violence and what students can do to stop it. Pohl and his partners have produced a film entitled “Teen Truth” about the effects of teasing, threatening and bullying. The film featured five hand-selected students across the country, one of them from Canyon High School. After the film was presented, La Mesa students discussed the importance of treating others with respect. Students were challenged to get involved and to build social connections and support networks.
Drama Students Prepare for Upcoming Curtain Calls
Placerita Junior High School drama students will be presenting the musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” Feb. 23 and 24 in Tanner Hall on campus. Approximately 50 students have been practicing singing, acting and dance with a focus on tap to ready themselves for the performance. The play takes place in the 1920’s and students have been studying the time period regarding customs, dialects, politics and women’s rights to prepare for their roles. Showtime is 7 p.m. each evening. Ticket prices are $7 for friends and family, and $5 for students (with ID).
ROP Teachers Plan Recognition and Advisory Meeting
Staff members with the Hart District Regional Occupational Program kicked off the Spring 2010 semester with a staff inservice meeting at Rio Norte Junior High School. Teachers worked to plan for the ROP Outstanding Student Recognition Event and Business Advisory meeting, both to be held on April 28. Teachers also focused on curriculum standards. The highlight of the event was an informational and inspiring presentation by Dan Williams, founder of the Destiny Foundation, who presented a segment on learning styles, motivating students and teaching soft skills.
Assemblies Launch Roadtrip Nation
A series of school-wide assemblies launched the Roadtrip Nation Experience at Bowman High School this month, giving students a taste of the career-seeking journey they will undertake this year. Students are challenged to follow their own dreams in pursuit of a career, documenting the process with interviews which will be combined into videos. The 15-week experience is a life-changing journey to help students define their own road in life by seeking advice from leaders who are living purposeful lives by making a living doing what they love.
La Mesa Celebrates Chinese New Year
La Mesa Junior High School’s English Language Development program celebrated the 2010 Chinese New Year with all its English language learners. Having an instructional assistant from China (Maria Chee) and welcoming a brand new student from northern China (Justin Hsu) to La Mesa were enough reasons to prepare a colorful activity. The 2010 Chinese Lunar Calendar lists this year as the year of the tiger. Students were able to learn the Chinese Zodiac as well as the traditions these celebrations bring with them. At the end, students recognized the importance diversity brings to the school community as well as learning the value of being different and learning about other world cultures.
AVID Success Story: Student Earns 4.14 GPA
Many Saugus High School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students benefit from this special program, experiencing growth and success in their academic endeavors. One example is Katelin Farenbaugh, who walked into the AVID class freshman year with a 2.5 grade point average, struggling in both math and Spanish. Eventually, she embraced the AVID strategies of organization, test taking skills and the tutorial process. This quarter she earned an exemplary 4.14 GPA! She is not only taking Honors and AP classes as a middle student, but she is thriving on the rigorous content and path that she is on. Katelin is one of 90 students on this campus that profit from AVID and AVID strategies each day.
Spelling Bee Winner Heads to Regional Contest
One Rio Norte Junior High School student is hoping her spelling prowess will lead to an opportunity to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Ashwin Trisal won first place in Rio Norte Junior High School’s annual spelling bee and will represent the Hart District at the Los Angeles Regional Bee on Feb. 27. Runners up in the local bee included Georgina Del Vecho, second place, and Lily Beal, third. Teachers Annalee Davis, Ron Ippolito, Elena Davis, Vickie Kaplan, Jeanette Kratofil and Marlene Norris coordinated the Rio Norte event.
Saugus Students Tour Castaic Lake Water Agency
Thanks to a grant obtained by AP Environmental Science teacher Kristi Schertz, Saugus High School students visited the Castaic Lake Water Agency facilities to learn about water borne diseases, proactive conservation efforts and groundwater and imported water sources. Students played a Jeopardy style H2O trivia game testing their knowledge of water and then viewed a slide show regarding oil spills and their effect on the fresh water ecosystem. They then conducted experiments in soil permeability, calculating the time in which water travels through the soil.
